Lionhead Needs To Listen!

[Sassafrass]

Are you the same 'Aerista' over at Project Ego, who's ideas for Fable IV are for Lionhead to work with Team Silent and Bethesda (I suppose you want them to make the Dog Armour you want) and for Fable IV to feature Captain Picard?

Are you the same 'Aerista' who hates the customisation aspect of the Fable games, who thinks the games are racist because you can't choose to be an "African American" (despite being set in the equivalent of Old England and having a hereditary protagonist), who thinks the games should start using "next gen technology" (what, like an X-Box 720?), and who's been publicly saying they hate Peter Molyneux?

If so, then there could be a reason Lionhead haven't replied to you...

P.S. You do realise that the Project Ego site isn't Lionhead, right? That it's a fan site and not Lionhead's official Fable site?

If that person isn't you, then I apologise for assuming that you were the same person, but I suggest that you change your handle, because there's a real loon who uses the same handle as you, who's been making threads with crackpot ideas for Fable IV and slagging off Peter Molyneux over on the Project Ego fan site, so it could be unfortunate if you've been using that same handle in your correspondence to Lionhead.

It appears they might be the very same person you are thinking off. [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/jump/9.265866.10128492] Look through the post linked and you'll spot a few things that you mentioned in your post, most noticeably the Bethesda point and the racist point.

As for my ideas for the Fable games? Get rid off the repairing of houses, get rid off the piss easy combat (Oh hai, Level 5 AoE spell!) and as someone else said above me, make it more challenging and actually make the player able to die again. ...I think those last two points are actually related, as in Fable 2 and 3, there is no punishment for death, except EXP loss and a scar, which just made me throw all caution to the wind and just twat a lot of things with a long sword. Even then, I only got knocked down once. I'd prefer every fight to be one that could possibly end up with me dead. It would raise the challenge of the massive fights and actually make me use the block button a bit more.

 

[canucmeh]

What Fable 4 needs:

1) More Heroes besides just you being worshiped by NPCs as the fucking messiah
2) Less fundraising
3) A PROPER final boss. Fable 3's was better, but it still felt weak because by that point you're so powerful that you can lay waste to entire armies. My first time through I beat the final boss without ever once getting hit.
4) Actually, the entire game is too easy. Raise the difficulty
5) The ability to DIE again!
6) Massively different story lines for both evil and good. Seriously, Fable 2 and 3 just have 'save the kingdom' or 'save the kingdom but be a bit of a dick about it' options. We need GOOD (saving the world) or BAD (razing the kingdom to the ground and/or becoming a horrible ruler in a way that DOESN'T still make you good by default)

If Lionhead pull off even a few of these it'll be a big improvement! Oh, wait a minute...

7) Don't make us have to manually repair all of our houses!

Okay, I'm done. Now if they could do all of these, Fable 4 would be epic! Wait...

8) Make marrying NPCs have some proper effect on things. If you're going to have marriage in the game, give us something out of it. At the moment it just results in us having a generic NPC wife/husband and generic NPC kids walking around leeching your time and money. you don't get anything out of it.

OKAY, now I'm finally done.

Thank you for being decent. And yes, I am the same Aerista from ProjectEgo.net. I have some great ideas, and lots of other people do, too. I'm just trying to get out ideas. I know that there are polls that have the fans say their ideas, but the creators, developers and other workers over at Lionhead have ideas too. If they are like yours, they'll go with the worker's ideas because they have more game experience and know the medium apparently more than other gamers. But that might not be true. Some people do know the medium. I want to get those people together and try and have them support what Lionhead is already trying to due by getting the fans involved. Fans and game buyers are important. If they clean up the game and listen to others, then the game might not be as broken. I mean, the ExtraCredits team has good points. You guys, if you don't watch them already, should check them out. They have good points and know what they're talking about.

And if you don't like this thing, DON'T COMMENT!!

 

[StormShaun]

Snippity snip

This is the dumbest idea I've ever read. Send them a letter? Why? Why not an email?

Shit, if you're that insistent, fucking hand them the letter yourself so you can be there when they throw it in the trash.

Plus, they already have a survey on their website. You say they don't listen to us? That they'll ignore the results? Fuck off. They wouldn't be doing it in the first place.

Besides, Fable 2 was awesome. Fable 3 would've been fine if not for the weird fucking fundraiser and final boss.

less gay

You suggest that they take out the feature that allows homosexual marriage and intercourse? That would hardly be fair or inclusive.

Ok not that I mean a better story, gameplay and ending and more bosses

 

[Savagezion]

One thing I can't stand in fable is my alignment is based on my clothes and not my actions. Kill a man, +1 evil points. Wear black chainmail - "+200 evil points" WTF, that isn't even morality. It is just cosmetic stuff.

Overall their morality systems are the epitome of bad morality systems. It's even worse than inFamous.

 

[Archemetis]

I posted up an idea for what would have made the games good on a blog I review games on in between the occasional rant.

I'll link them for those who're interested, but I won't hold my breath...

Fable 2 - Part 1: [link]http://brainboltblog.blogspot.com/2009/03/review-time-fable-2.html[/link]

Fable 2 - Part 2: [link]http://brainboltblog.blogspot.com/2009/03/review-time-fable-2-part-ii.html[/link]

Fable 2 - Part 3: [link]http://brainboltblog.blogspot.com/2009/10/review-time-fable-2-pt3.html[/link] (this is the more relevant one with my game ideas in it.)

Fable 3 - [link]http://brainboltblog.blogspot.com/2011/01/review-fable-3.html[/link]

There's at least one point the OP has made that I agree with.

The option of black characters. Granted the game is based on Victorian England, but Black people have been wandering around in Fable since the first game... Some of them were even Heroes...

Which leads to a point I'd like to make.

What happened to the heroes beside the Fable protagonist?
(I know the lore states that most heroes were wiped out in the 500 years preceeding Fable 2, but c'mon what about heroes from Samarkand, you know that place where they keep the brown people and never think to visit...)

Yeah, yeah I know, The bloodline... BLAH.

The Bloodline hasn't been relevant to the games since the first one...

In the first game it was a device to drive the story in the later stages, your bloodline helped to seal away an ancient weapon, funnily enough it's sealed away now, Jack of Blades hasn't been a legitimate threat for 550 years...

So why did the family connection have to be made in Fable 2? Granted there was yet another destined ritual involving you being 'The Fourth' but why was that limited to genetic legacy?

Did Lionhead not think that just maybe another Heroes bloodline could have been key to that particular ritual?

No? It can only be the family from Fable 1... If it was so they could keep Theresa around then... Thank you, Lionhead, that wasn't an annoying choice at all, especially not for two games... I love being rail-roaded.


Bloody hell, I've been ranting a while...
I think I better leave it at that before I get inspired to write another Fable 'review'...

 

[katsumoto03]

Snippity snip

This is the dumbest idea I've ever read. Send them a letter? Why? Why not an email?

Shit, if you're that insistent, fucking hand them the letter yourself so you can be there when they throw it in the trash.

Plus, they already have a survey on their website. You say they don't listen to us? That they'll ignore the results? Fuck off. They wouldn't be doing it in the first place.

Besides, Fable 2 was awesome. Fable 3 would've been fine if not for the weird fucking fundraiser and final boss.

less gay

You suggest that they take out the feature that allows homosexual marriage and intercourse? That would hardly be fair or inclusive.

Ok not that I mean a better story, gameplay and ending and more bosses

....

Then why would you say, "gay", instead of just that?

 

[StormShaun]

Snippity snip

This is the dumbest idea I've ever read. Send them a letter? Why? Why not an email?

Shit, if you're that insistent, fucking hand them the letter yourself so you can be there when they throw it in the trash.

Plus, they already have a survey on their website. You say they don't listen to us? That they'll ignore the results? Fuck off. They wouldn't be doing it in the first place.

Besides, Fable 2 was awesome. Fable 3 would've been fine if not for the weird fucking fundraiser and final boss.

less gay

You suggest that they take out the feature that allows homosexual marriage and intercourse? That would hardly be fair or inclusive.

Ok not that I mean a better story, gameplay and ending and more bosses

....

Then why would you say, "gay", instead of just that?

Its my lazyness trait, I wasnt bothered to explain it

 

[VanQ]

As much as I hate to bump a silly thing like this, there are only 2 things I would ask Lionhead for in Fable 4

-Bring back the Arena. The Witchwood arena was by far the GREATEST part of the original fable, the roaring crowds, the hoards of beasts and the badass boss in the final round! What made it even more tense was the choice of whether to take breaks between rounds or weather the storm for more glory and gold!
-A Climactic Final Boss. The battles with Jack of Blades in the first game made you feel like you were fighting something big, and you left those battles with a real sense of victory. The Chamber of Fate, the Dragon in Archon's Folly, 2 grand moments I'll remember for my entire life. I mean, just look at this guy, how can you NOT feel like a hero after defeating him?

Spoiler

Thats all I would ask from them.

 

[The Unworthy Gentleman]

So, according to you, even though they don't read survey results, they're going to read some randomer's list and treat it as though God sent it to them from the heavens? I'm sorry but that has to be one of the least thought through ideas ever.

You're one guy in a sea of other guys who are willing to buy what Lionhead produce because they like it. Just because you didn't get a reply doesn't mean they don't listen. Your facts seem to be based on personal quarrels with Lionhead.

 

[the_green_dragon]

I liked Fable, Fable 2 and Fable 3.

I liked the boss fight at the end of fable 2 and the choice you had to make, I like the surprise twist at the end of Fable 3. I think it was Awesome

OH NOES! My sarcasm detector exploded!

I'm quite serious, I enjoyed both games. They had their faults but I found them to be very enjoyable overall.

I'd go into further discussion but I don't know how to do the spoiler buttoney thing.

 

[the_green_dragon]

Ok I figured it out but I doubt anyone is still reading this.

Spoiler

I loved the last boss in Fable 2. There was no fight, which was really breaking the mold, you always expect a big fight at the end but nope, just shoot him in the head, Indiana Jones Style, was brilliant and I laughed so hard.

Then came the hard choice, Money, Family or Sacrifice for the greater good. Brilliant.

Fable 3, you defeat the king and claim the throne but it's not all that easy. Turns out your brother was being a dick for a reason and many people will die. Do you keep your promises and let millions die or become the tyrant your brother was to save lives? Wow, I did not expect that at all and it was tough. Second playthru I'll get it right but first time round. BAM!!

Well done Lionshead, keep up the great work

 

[the_green_dragon]

What Fable 4 needs:

1) More Heroes besides just you being worshiped by NPCs as the fucking messiah
2) Less fundraising
3) A PROPER final boss. Fable 3's was better, but it still felt weak because by that point you're so powerful that you can lay waste to entire armies. My first time through I beat the final boss without ever once getting hit.
4) Actually, the entire game is too easy. Raise the difficulty
5) The ability to DIE again!
6) Massively different story lines for both evil and good. Seriously, Fable 2 and 3 just have 'save the kingdom' or 'save the kingdom but be a bit of a dick about it' options. We need GOOD (saving the world) or BAD (razing the kingdom to the ground and/or becoming a horrible ruler in a way that DOESN'T still make you good by default)

If Lionhead pull off even a few of these it'll be a big improvement! Oh, wait a minute...

7) Don't make us have to manually repair all of our houses!

Okay, I'm done. Now if they could do all of these, Fable 4 would be epic! Wait...

8) Make marrying NPCs have some proper effect on things. If you're going to have marriage in the game, give us something out of it. At the moment it just results in us having a generic NPC wife/husband and generic NPC kids walking around leeching your time and money. you don't get anything out of it.

OKAY, now I'm finally done.

Oh can we add not having to make friends with every single villiager and doing retarded collection quests for them? That really pissed me off. I made like 2 friends and got bored.

 

[Kae]

Ok I figured it out but I doubt anyone is still reading this.

Spoiler

I loved the last boss in Fable 2. There was no fight, which was really breaking the mold, you always expect a big fight at the end but nope, just shoot him in the head, Indiana Jones Style, was brilliant and I laughed so hard.

Then came the hard choice, Money, Family or Sacrifice for the greater good. Brilliant.

Fable 3, you defeat the king and claim the throne but it's not all that easy. Turns out your brother was being a dick for a reason and many people will die. Do you keep your promises and let millions die or become the tyrant your brother was to save lives? Wow, I did not expect that at all and it was tough. Second playthru I'll get it right but first time round. BAM!!

Well done Lionshead, keep up the great work

I thought it was sarcasm because you said boss fight at the end of Fable 2, and well that's not really a fight, although I'll agree with you that it was very entertaining, I did feel that overall the game lacked boss fights, I mean I have not played it in over a year but I can't remember a single boss fight in that game, and no the troll does not count because it becomes a normal enemy and also was ridiculously easy to kill.
And yes they did a good job, but it could have been great, I'd say more but I have not played III, because I don't have an Xbox (passed 2 at a friend's house and have 1 for PC).

 

[canucmeh]

So far, thank you all for your comments (except the TROLLS). Remember we need LOTS of game play suggestions by March 31, 14 days AWAY!

 

[GotMalkAvian]

The only things I'd want from future Fable releases are the following:

1. More varied armor. It seems that there's really only one top-level armor set for any given "class."

2. Try to improve the spell system for console players. I haven't had a chance to play Fable 3 on 360 yet, but the magic system was atrocious in Fable 2. I essentially had to choose from either a single spell or one strong spell and an increasingly weak list of support spells. I understand that it may be difficult to map the entire selection to a controller, but I'd gladly accept a Dragon Age-like system of pausing combat to quickly bring up a spell wheel for quick selection.

3. Not really a Fable suggestion, but I'd love to see another Black & White. My only hope is that a third game would be more like the first game than the second one; to me, the second game seemed a bit more streamlined and lost a lot of depth, almost turning into a light RTS game.

 

[LogicNProportion]

My /b/ urges are about to surface after reading the OP...

I'm sorry, but Lionhead, at least this time around, IS going to listen to us. They went through the trouble of making that huge survey, plus Peter says he browses boards himself.

I know that's putting a lot of trust in Peter and his bros, but I have confidence that they will do the right thing next game.

Ex: MOAR REAVER!

EDIT: Pete didn't over-hype Fable 3 at all, he barely even mentioned features he'd LIKE to see. And regardless, if you are taken by hype, you deserve to be ripped out of your hard earned money. Social Darwinism at its finest!

 

[Samechiel]

I loved the last boss in Fable 2.

There was no last boss in Fable 2. Standing around like a douche until you decide to shoot him is not thrilling, it's not breaking the mold, it's not a good resolution. Hell, you can't even decide to let him live; if you wait too long, Reaver shoots him anyway.

Then came the hard choice, Money, Family or Sacrifice for the greater good. Brilliant.

Except they weren't hard choices at all. If you take Wealth, you get a load of evil points which are easy to attain and a million gold which is pointless because you a) probably have three or four million already just from regular play and b) there's hardly a damn thing to actually spend all that money on. If you take Sacrifice, you get good points and all the lives lost in the tower's constuction are resored -but you never see any of these people or hear from them again. Family gets you your dog back and your sister returned to life, but you never see your sister (A BULLSHIT DEAR JOHN LETTER IS NOT CLOSURE, LIONHEAD).

Essentially, Family is the only option that has a concrete advantage, and then only if you still need your dog.

Fable 3, you defeat the king and claim the throne but it's not all that easy.

Yes! Yes it is that easy. Your brother was an idiot. Furthermore, as long as you have enough money in the bank (which is rediculously, rediculously easy to obtain) then it doesn't matter in the slightest what laws you pass, who you piss off, or how you act, you can still save every last soul in Albion.


Bottom line if you want to make Fable 4 not suck? Keep Peter Molyneux the hell away from it. Learn how to write a story that isn't trite and predictable. Learn about pacing and conflict.

And for god's sake, fix the damn combat.

 

[canucmeh]

THANK YOU! You think the SAME things I do!

 

[canucmeh]

Alright people. We're at crunch time. Get your thoughts in 10 DAYS or they WILL NOT be counted. Thank you to all who have helped. I'm glad that you didn't troll (for the most part >_>)

PS I also added that some of you wanted to have a Black & White 3, so for some of you....Your welcome!